“I made the choice to follow my dreams... I haven't looked back.”
Kanesha's trip to her job as a registered nurse at Inova Alexandria Hospital can't be measured in miles. It was a two-year journey, powered by hope and hard work, that took her from homelessness to a secure and rewarding career. In 2010, Kanesha was struggling: working two jobs and raising her five children, all under the age of 12, as well as her sister's child.
Looking for some way to meet her family's economic needs, she saw an opportunity in nursing. "As a nurse I would be able to help people, continue learning and have the means to support my family."
Kanesha enrolled in the inaugural class of the Nursing program at Everest College, Tysons Corner, becoming the first of her eight siblings to attend college. Even while she continued to work as an elderly care provider and a phlebotomist, she took a full course load and maintained a 3.28 GPA.
Her school, work, and life demands became less daunting when she realized her peers were facing similar challenges. "I was so surprised at how many of my classmates were in similar situations. We gave each other encouragement and came out strong." In June 2012, Kanesha passed her nursing boards, the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). The same year, she was hired as an RN — and is now happily employed — at Inova, part of the largest health care system in Washington D.C’s Northern Virginia suburbs and ranked as a Best Hospital in U.S. News for healthcare excellence. Today, Kanesha continues to look ahead. Her children are thriving and support her next career goal: becoming a nurse practitioner.